Improvement in apparatus for ventilating mines



W. G-REIS.

APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING MINES. No.18Z,916. Patented on. a, 1876.

,- i 4 *fi l WITNESSES INVENTOH flf% W? fiwmm N.FETE.RS,FHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT Grrroa.

WILLIAM GBEIS, OF SHENANDOAH CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING MINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,916, dated October3, 1876; application filed July 26, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WM. Grams, of Shenandoah City, in Schuylkill county,and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Apparatus forVentilating Mines, of which the following is a specification:

This invention has for its object the expulsion of all sulphurous andother deleterious gases from coal and other mines, and supplying intheir stead good pure air. This has been attempted in various ways; butowing to the great distance to be traveled the clasticity of theatmospheric air to be supplied, and the gases to be expelled, none haveyet satisfactorily accomplished the object aimed at.

The invention, hereinafter more fully described, consists in theapplication of a series of air-pumps by which a direct and positivecurrent of air may be forced to the extremity of the drift and all itscross-cuts, whereby the sulphurous and other gases are caused to flowtoward and up the shaft, thus supplying all the avenues of the mine withpure air, and expelling all the deleterious gases now breathed by thenumerous human beings and animals employed therein.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, Figure1 represents a top view of the apparatus with one air-pump and thevalve-chamber in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectiontaken on the line or m on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of thepumps taken on the line 2 2 on Fig. 1.

The same letters of reference occurring on the several figures indicatecorresponding parts.

A A A A represent a series of air-pumps, preferably of rectangular formin their crosssection, and made up of four plates of castiron rabbetedand secured together by bolts b and clamps c with suitable packing inthe joints to render them air-tight. Near one end of each of thesechambers, and on their upper side, is a valve, (1, opening inwardly, andto which is connected a counterbalance-lever, e. Across the end of theseair-chambers A is arranged an ejection-valve chamber, B, having afoot-valve, f, opposite the end of each of the chambers A. Thisvalve-chamber is furthermore provided with dividing-plates g, spacing itoff to correspond with the number of chambers A. The side of thisconduit opposite the valves f is arranged obliquely to the latter todeflect the air forced against it toward the conduit pipe or passage 0,from which point it is to be conveyed through boxtubes, or by means offlexible hose arranged along the upper portion of the drift and all itscross-cuts, to the extremities of the mine. In each of the air-chambersA is a piston, D, made up of alternate thicknesses of metal, h, andleather, rubber, or other suitable packing Z to Work air-tight therein.The pistonrod m is of rectangular form of bar-iron, supported and guidedby horizontal and vertical rollers n n, and these piston-rods areconnected by pitmen p with a series of cranks, q, arranged to rotate atequidistant points in the circle they describe. These cranks, andthrough them the pistons D, are operated, through gear or band wheels E,by steam or any suitable motor. In order to be assured that theapparatus is at all times performing its functions, I arrange acounterbalance-lever, 0, connected with each of the induction-valves din full view, to indicate the operation of each pump, or its cessation,so that any obstruction may be immediately removed.

As by the necessary friction of the pistons D in the chambers A, and thecontinual compression of air in the apparatus, it would be liable toheat and impair its usefulness, I arrange a series of pipes, G, one overeach chamber A, and perforated on their under side to drip jets of wateron the rounded tops of said chambers to keep them cool, the water beingsupplied to them through the main pipe G, which, dripping down the sidesof the chambers A, passes off by the troughs 1' under and at the loweredges of said chambers, they being arranged on a slight incline toeflect such drainage.

It will thus be seen that by this apparatus a constant and positivesupply of air may be forced to the extremities of the drift and itscross-cuts, the contents of each forcing-chamber impinging against theback of the inclined conduit, each successive volume impels thepreceding in its course, so that a constant current ejected at theextremity of the mine must expel all foul air generated therein. In theprogress of excavation this air-duct must be extended from time to timeto the extent of the drifts and cuts.

What is here claimed as new, and desired to be secured by LettersPatent, is-

1. The combination of a series of air-forcin g chambers, operatingsuccessively, with an inolined conduit extended to the extremities orthereabouts of the drift in a mine, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the vertical and horizontal rollers n n with thesquare or rectangular piston-rod m, substantially as described.

3. The arrangement of a series of pipes, G, over the rounded covers ofthe air'forcing chambers A, in combination with the troughs r at the bedof the latter, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

WM. GREIS.

Witnesses W. MORRIS SMITH, J. W. HAMILTON JOHNSON.

